First of three segments of C5 South Link Expressway to open in March 2019

A two-kilometer segment of a toll road project that will link Costal Road in Parañaque City and Circumferential Road-5 in Taguig City is nearly halfway done and is expected to be completed by March 2019, Public Works and Highways chief Mark Villar said.

(photo courtesy of Mark Villar Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN)

Construction is progressing on time for C5 South Link Expressway that will connect Manila–Cavite Expressway or Coastal Road and C-5, Villar announced following an inspection on the project recently.

“Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation (CIC) is nearly halfway in terms of construction accomplishment. They are currently working on the 2.2-kilometer Segment 3A-1 from SLEX/C5 Road to Merville, crossing on top of PNR station by the Skyway at grade between Nichols Toll Plaza and Bicutan,” Villar said.

“We expect to complete this segment by March 2019,” he added.

According to CIC president Luigi Bautista, girders across PNR area have been launched while long span steel girders that will cross the at grade portion of Skyway and South Luzon Expressway is set in the coming days.

After the completion of the 2.2-kilometer segment (3A-1), works will begin on the 2.1-kilometer segment (3A-2) from Merville to E. Rodriguez as well as the 1.59-kilometer segment (3B) from Rodriguez Avenue to Sucat, and the Segment 2 which starts from Sucat and ends in Coastal Road, Parañaque City.

Villar said that the DPWH is simultaneously working on road right-of-way acquisition for the project. The department has already acquired 74 percent of the road right-of-way in Segment 3A-2; 69 percent in Segment 2; and 17 percent in Segment 3B.

The whole P10-billion C5 South Link Expressway is expected for completion and full operation by 2020.

When completed, C5 South Link Expressway will be a 7.74-kilometer, 6-lane expressway that will provide access between the major business districts in Makati, Taguig area and the southern cities of Parañaque and Las Piñas, as well as Cavite. It will cut travel time from one hour and a half to just 20 to 30 minutes, Villar said.

The project will also generate at least 1,000 jobs during construction, operation and maintenance phases, the secretary added.